Electro-therapeutic process and apparatus



(No Model.) v Y J. M. WARDELL. ELECTRO THERAPB-UTIG PROCESS AN'DAPPARATUS.

No. 481,655. 'Patented De@ 6, 1892.

INVENTOH W/TNESSES f w: Noms paens cn, Pnowpmm wAsmNron. n. cA

Nrrnn STATES PATENT union.

JOSHUA MEARVE WARDELL, OF CADILLAC, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRO-THERAPEUTIC PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,655, datedDecember 6, 1892.

EApplioation led February 20, 1892.. Serial No. 422,302. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA MEARVE WAR- DELL, of Cadillac, in the countyof Wexford and State of Michigan, have invented an ImprovedTherapeutical Process and Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

In the therapeutical application of hot water and electricity,separately or together, to the vaginal canal for the cure of localinflammation or other diseased conditions certain difficulties have beenencountered and certain defects have existed in the instruments used,which are removed by my process and apparatus.

The details of application and construction of the same are ashereinafter described, reference being had to accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a longitudinal section of the instrument. Fig. 2illustrates the practical application of the instrument.

The instrument is a vaginal syringe with an electrode attachment. Thesyringe is composed of five principal parts, to wit: the hollow taperedbody ot and shield b, formed integrally, the water-inlet tube c,arranged within such tapered body a and projecting therefrom, thewater-exit tube d, which is similarly arranged relatively with theinlet-tube, and an electrode e, which is arranged in the airchamber f,surrounding the inlet-tube c. The said electrode c is formed of somemetal which is a good conductor'of electricity, while all the otherparts (a, b c d) above mentioned are constructed of some non-conductingmaterial, preferably* hard rubber. The circular portion of the electrodee forms a smooth continuation of the tapered body a, exteriorly, andextends rearward beneath it for a sufficient distance to provide for adetachable screw-thread connection at g with the inlettube c. The innerend of the outlet-tube d is flared to form a shoulder adapted to thecorrespondingly-beveled extremity of the inlet-tube d, and said tube dis secured firmly in place by a screw-thread connection at h on the rearend of the inlet-tube, as shown. The latter is enlarged interiorlyforward of this point to form an annular space, through which water isconducted to the exits z'.

A compressible bulb j, such as forms part of the ordinary hand-syringe,maybe iexibly connected with the rigid inlet-tube c, as

shown, or in place of the bulb I may employ the well-known water-bag,(not shown,) which is a common substitute therefor. A flexible tube k isalso connected with the rigid outlet-tubo. Cocks or turning-plugs Z Zare applied to the outer ends of theinlet and outlet tubes,respectively, for a purpose hereinafter explained. A soft-rubber washerm is applied to the outer end of the exit-tube d to prevent any leakageof water through the screw-joint at h. A large soft-rubber Washer 'n isapplied to the body of the syringe adjacent to the inner side of thecurved shield b to aid in preventing escape of water, and also to form acushion for the soft parts of the person, with which the shield wouldotherwise come in direct contact.

The method of using the instrument is as follows: Suitable connection ismade between a battery and the electrode e, as shown in Fig. l. Theinstrument having been applied to the body of the patient, as shown inFig. 2, a second electrode, which is also connected with said battery,is applied to the patients back, hips, or abdomen. Water is firstinjected by means of the compressible bulb j and the vagina thoroughlywashedA out. The cook Z of the exit-tube is then turned to close it anda sufficient quantity of water is injected to distend the vagina sofully as to obliterate its folds, so as to come in contact with everyportion of the membrane, as well as submerge the os and neck of thewomb, as illustrated. The plug Z of the inlet-tube c may then be turnedto close the latter, and thus the water that distends the vaginal cavityis confined therein and may be retained at will. The electrical currentpasses from the electrode c into such body of water and is by itdisseminated to all parts of the membrane or tissue with which the wateris in contact. The advantage thus obtained in the application ofelectricity is very great and virtually constitutes a new departure inelectrical therapeutics, forlby other methods and means heretoforecommonly employed reliance was placed on the electrical currentfollowing the water as ejected from the instrument used; but experimenthas proved thatit will not do this, or at least not to any considerableexextent, and hence little or no curative result IOO can be thusobtained, save such as comes from the application of the hot- Water tothe in- Iiamed or diseased parts.

In case it is not desired to apply the electrical current to a patientthe battery-Wire is disconnected from the instrument, and then thelatter may be used as an ordinary syringe. It will be noted that theair-chamber surrounding the inlet-tube prevents the access of undue heatfrom the hot Water employed to the vulva and contiguous parts. Skillfulphysicians often use Water having ateniperature of 120 in syringes ofthis class, since it has been found to be perfectly safe and veryadvantageous to apply Water to the os and adjacent parts atthis hightemperature which could not be applied to the vulva and connected partsWithout more or less serious injury.

What I claim is- 1. In the therapeutical application of electricity, theprocess hereinbefore described, which consists in injecting into andtemporarily confining in the vaginal canal a quantity of liquidsufficient to distend its folds and applying the electrical currentdirectly to and disseminating it throughout such body of water, andthereby conducting it to and securing its tonic and other effects uponthe whole surface with which the Water is in contact, as shown anddescribed.

2. An instrument for therapeutical application of electricity to thevaginal canal, which consists of a syringe having a hollow nonconductingbody and an exterior ilange or shield, an electrode arranged on theinner end of such body and extending rearward, as specied, a Water-inlettube arranged Within the said body, but separated from itby an airspace,and the Water-exit tube arranged within the inlet-tube and secured toit, substantially as shown and described.

3. An instrument for therapeutical application of electricity to thevaginal canal, which consists of a syringe having a hollow nonconductingbody and an exterior flange or shield, an electrode arranged on theinner end of such body and extending rearward, as specified, aWater-inlet tube arranged within the said body, but separated from it byan air-space, and provided with a stop cock, and the exit-tube securedwithin the inlet-tube and also provided with astop-cock, as and for thepurpose specified.

Y JOSHUA MEARVE VVARDELL.

Witnesses:

CHAs. H. NICHOLS, I. U. STANLEY.

